The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon

*The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon*
The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon
	File:Swamp Critters.png Left to right: Big Al Gator, Billy Bob Possum, Gumbo Fiddler Crab, Ribbit E. Lee, Ima Dilla, and Joe Raccoon
Genre	Education; Children's;
Created by	Bobby Goldsboro
Written by	Bobby Goldsboro
Voices of	Bobby Goldsboro
Theme music composer	Bobby Goldsboro
Opening theme	"Rollin' Down to Lost Lagoon"
Composer	Bobby Goldsboro
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Release
Original network	PBS Member Stations; The Learning Channel; Smile of a Child; America One Television Network; TCT Kids;
Original release	February 3, 1996 –; January 27, 2001

The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon (originally named Swamp Critters) is an American children's television series created by country music star Bobby Goldsboro. Targeted for children aged 2 to 8, the show featured characters brought to life by actors.^[1] The program aired on PBS Kids and The Learning Channel from 1996 to 2001, and according to the show's website, it currently airs on the America One Television Network and on TCT Kids.^[2]

Characters

Band

William Robert "Billy Bob/Will" Possum (lead singer, bass player, tambourine, harmonica)
Karina Desire "Kari/K.D." Watson (second lead singer, tambourine, soniator guitar/guitar, drums)
Rancid DuBois (bass player, keyboard,vocals) {Currently}
Joseph "Joe" Raccoon (banjo/guitar, harmonica, saxophone, vocals)
Gumbo the Fiddler Crab (fiddle/violin, vocals)
Todd Bender (bass player, vocals, cameraman)
Ribbit E. Lee (drums, vocals)
Ima Dilla Armadillo (tambourine, dancer, vocals)
Chase Isben (bass player, keyboard, vocals) {Episode 1 - 27}
Alouisious "Big Al Gator" Reptilicus (piano, accordion, vocals)

Other

T. Bone Willie
Slim Pig
Bobby Q. Pig
Cashew Squirrel
Melvis Weasley
Picasso "Speedy" Cottontail as the Easter Bunny and Kari's BFFA
Lumpkin the Pumpkin
Stinger
Patience
Henrietta Hen
Stormy Weathers
Dr. Betterfeel
Sam and Ethel Watson as Mason's Parents and Kari's Grandparents
Shecky Dangerfield-Mouse
Snorkel Elephant
Frank Possum as Suzy Ann's husband, Joel and D.J.'s father and Billy Bob's brother-in-law
Mason Watson as Kari's Widowed Father and Sam & Ethel's Son
Harry Bear
Mya Raccoon as Joe's younger sister
Suzy Ann Possum as Billy Bob's older sister, Joel and D.J.'s mother and Frank's wife
Willie Hank "Country" Weston
Freada Dyle as Big Al's girlfriend
Granny Muskrat
Bonnie and the Bunnies
Michelle Possum as Billy Bob's girlfriend with a French accent
Phineas Phatrat
William Snakespear
Farley Phatrat as Phineas' nephew
Lil' Rock Raccoon as Joe's nephew
Joel Possum as Billy Bob's nephew and Frank & Suzy Ann's son
Dorothy-Jane "D.J." Possum as Billy Bob's niece and Frank and Suzy Ann's daughter
Lil' Pedro as Big Al's next restaurant neighbor
Chanel Skunk as Lil' Pedro's business partner
Jefferson Opossum as Pioneer, Billy Bob and Suzy Ann's great-great grandfather

Cast and crew

Billy Bob Possum - Charlie Rose
Kari Watson - Samantha Caras
Joe Raccoon - Jeff W. Maddux
Chase Isben - Christopher Huber {Seasons 1 and 2}
Christian Buenaventura (Pilot)
Rancid DuBois - Marquise Wilson {Seasons 3 and 4}
Todd Bender - Seth Adkins
Big Al Gator - Joe "Mudfish" Hitch
Ima Dilla Armadillo - Dianne Goldsboro
Sam Watson - Tom Bosley
Ethel Watson - Marion Ross
Gumbo Fiddler Crab - puppeteer Daniel. W. Peeler
Bobby Q. - puppeteer Paul Taylor
Mya Raccoon - Cree Summers
Frank Possum - Pep Harris
Granny Muskrat - puppeteer Russi Taylor
Melvis Weasley - Jeff Bennett
Michelle Possum - Casey Carlson
Suzy Ann Possum - Michelle Muller
Slim Pig - Jack Reilly
Phinneas Phatrat - Dan Povenmire
Ribbit E. Lee - Jim Demetrius
Freada Dyle - Faith Prince
Mason Watson and All characters (voices) – Bobby Goldsboro
Suzy Ann Possum (voice) - Pamelyn Ferdin {Episodes 13 and 14}
Rue Phillips {Season 2}
Christine Westmoreland {Seasons 3 and 4}
Frank Possum (voice) - Mike Henry
Michelle Possum (voice) - Chantal Strand
Freada Dyle (voice) - Kath Soucie
Mya Raccoon (voice) - Tress MacNeille

Development

Goldsboro funded the show using his own money instead of getting investors to back it. According to him, "the minute somebody puts in money, they think they have the right to say, 'You know, Barney is so successful, why don't you make that alligator purple instead of green?' I've got enough to worry about without having to appease somebody else." Goldsboro also decided to start the show on a PBS affiliate rather than on a network affiliate. According to him, if he had gone to a network he "would have had to have a lot more action on the show. On the network shows, everything is fast cuts and fast movements. They think that's what kids want to see in this day and age of video games".^[3] The first season was produced in late 1995 and was broadcast the following spring. The same is true for the second season. In fall of 1996, the second season was in production, and made its first broadcast in the spring of 1997. Between 1998 and 1999, the first two seasons aired in reruns on PBS and TLC, and in the year 2000, the show was revived for a third season, which was broadcast between fall of 2000 and spring of 2001.

Music

Each half-hour episode contains four to six songs, ranging from blues and Dixieland jazz to pop and classical and country music. For the first two seasons, over 100 songs were written. According to Goldsboro, "it's music that's on a children's show but it's not children's music. I've never understood talking down to kids and treating them like they're imbeciles. Several shows do that."^[3]

Animatronics

Each of the main characters' costume heads contains over $20,000 worth of animatronics, which are used to control their facial expressions and mouth movements.^[3]

References

^ "Bobby Goldsboro". classicbands.com. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
^ "Swamp Critters Television!". bobbygoldsboro.com. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c Pamela Davis. "Goldsboro plays new tune on PBS". South Coast Today. Retrieved November 25, 2010.

External links

The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon at IMDb

[1] "Bobby Goldsboro". classicbands.com. Retrieved November 25, 2010.

[2] "Swamp Critters Television!". bobbygoldsboro.com. Retrieved November 25, 2010.

[tune-3] Pamela Davis. "Goldsboro plays new tune on PBS". South Coast Today. Retrieved November 25, 2010.

[1]

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